Farrer & Co LLP, Employment | Chambers UK Profile

Regional Rankings
Global
Asia-Pacific
Brazil
Canada
Europe
France
Greater China Region
Latin America
UK
UK Bar
Germany
USA
Specialist Rankings
NewLaw
Crisis & Risk Management
FinTech
High Net Worth
Litigation Support
Spotlight Rankings
USA: Spotlight
Content
Global Practice Guides
Expert Focus
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Legal Articles
Chambers Content
Events
Guide Launch Dates
Upcoming Events
Browse All Events
Event Sponsorship
About Our Events
DEI Events
Amplify your presence
Profile Platform
Amplify your ranking and be more discoverable
Includes:

Online Profile

Referee Management

Research Analytics

Marketing Toolkit

Plaques
Improve your performance
Insight
Improve your ranking with unique market insight
Includes:

Client and Market Intelligence

Client Intelligence

Rankings Data Hub

Business Intelligence
Market PulseNew
Showcase your expertise
Global Practice Guides Contributions
Highlight your subject matter expertise
Expert Focus
Provide commentary on key legal matters
In-depth Overviews
Events Sponsorship
Global Practice Guides
View our latest publications
Elevate your talent strategies
Chambers Talent
Access a range of ways to gain valuable insights to inform talent strategies
Leading Teams
Heighten your understanding of and identify the key drivers of talent retention and motivation
Chambers Student
Chambers Associate
Submissions
Submissions Process
Methodology
Research Schedule
Research Team
Help
My Account

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation - London (Firms)

2

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Farrer & Co provides expert advice to employers from the financial, education and sports sectors. The firm is also renowned for its work for senior executives, notably advising on severance negotiations and restrictive covenant-related matters. It regularly advises both sets of clients on discrimination, whistle-blowing and dismissal-related claims. The team has a particularly strong practice for assisting organisations with the implementation of appropriate safeguarding policies. The firm's expertise extends to the employment implications of sensitive employment disputes and shareholder activism.

View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The team is always very responsive and able to meet deadlines when required.

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation respondent
UK

The team has such strength in depth in terms of the number of highly capable employment lawyers at all levels who are on-hand to assist during pinch-points in complex cases.

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation respondent
UK

The team were incredibly supportive, I felt like I had the best people working with me. They were diligent, strong in their responses and clearly the best in the business.

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation respondent
UK

The team is always very responsive and able to meet deadlines when required.

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation respondent
UK

The team has such strength in depth in terms of the number of highly capable employment lawyers at all levels who are on-hand to assist during pinch-points in complex cases.

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation respondent
UK

The team were incredibly supportive, I felt like I had the best people working with me. They were diligent, strong in their responses and clearly the best in the business.

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation respondent
UK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1

Anna Birtwistle

1

Band 1

Anna Birtwistle is regularly called upon by senior individuals to advise on exits and discrimination claims. She is also experienced in assisting clients with misconduct investigations.

She is one of the best employment solicitors out there. I am blown away by her.

Anna Birtwistle is quite simply the best employment lawyer in the City of London.

She is a rockstar. Anna is brilliant and practical.

1

David Smellie

1

Band 1

David Smellie has decades of experience and draws widespread praise for his sophisticated representation of senior employees. He is often called upon to advise on team moves and senior exits.

You always feel he’s fighting your corner.

David Smellie is our go-to employment adviser.

David Smellie is a leader in his field.

1

Eleanor Rowswell

1

Band 1

Eleanor Rowswell is recognised for her work representing senior-level City of London employees. She regularly works with individuals at financial services organisations and law firms, advising them on contract negotiations, exits and disputes.

Eleanor was extremely knowledgable and clearly an impressively powerful lawyer in her field.

Eleanor is technically excellent, but is also quick to grasp the commercial reality of the situation and leads a highly strategic response.

She is extremely responsive, offers very practical advice and is completely client-centric.

1

Kathleen Heycock

1

Band 1

Kathleen Heycock is recognised for her work for both senior employees and employers in the education sector. She is especially well-known for advising executive-level employees in the financial services sector.

She is very responsive and enjoyable to work with.

Kathleen Heycock has a really pragmatic can-do attitude to problems that clients face.

Kathleen is an excellent employment lawyer. She can get to the nub of the issues quickly and provides pragmatic and cogent advice which is always to the point and invaluable.

2

Maria Strauss

2

Band 2

A partner at Farrer & Co, Maria Strauss demonstrates versatility across a number of practice areas. She advises employers on issues such as misconduct, harassment and discrimination. Maria is also one of the founding members of Farrer & Co's Safeguarding Unit.

She is highly competent.

Maria Strauss is an outstanding professional.

2

Rachel Lewis

2

Band 2

Rachel Lewis advises employers from a wide range of areas including the cultural, professional services and financial sectors. She is experienced in discrimination claims and reorganisations.

She is excellent.

If you have an employment issue then you want Rachel Lewis on your side.

I find her excellent.

4

David Hunt

4

Band 4

David Hunt is a partner at Farrer & Co who handles whistle-blowing, disciplinary and grievance matters for employers from a range of industries. He has a particular emphasis on the financial services and sports sectors. Hunt also has additional expertise in handling High Court litigation matters.

David has an innate ability to simplify and summarise complex legal matters in a way that you can fully understand the context and explain to colleagues.

David is a go-to Lawyer in respect of complex and strategically important litigation with a vast array of clients.

David is absolutely brilliant. He's technically brilliant and one of the best lawyers I've worked with.

U

Charmaine Pollock

U

Up and Coming

Charmaine Pollock regularly advises senior executives in relation to internal investigation and allegations made against them, as well as entry and exit negotiations.

Charmaine is a legal eagle with a fantastic ability to both balance all the above with empathy and that deep legal expertise whilst bringing a much-needed sense of humour to the processes.

Charmaine consistently delivers an exceptional level of client service and experience. Her depth of expertise, responsiveness and pragmatic approach provide real confidence.

Charmaine Pollock is a pleasure to work with. She adds a warmth to her excellent technical ability.

Filter by

London (Firms)

Employment: Employer

4

David Hunt

4

Band 4

4

Rachel Lewis

4

Band 4

Employment: Employer: High Court Litigation

1

Anna Birtwistle

1

Band 1

Employment: Employer: Third Sector

1

Kathleen Heycock

1

Band 1

2

Maria Strauss

2

Band 2

2

Rachel Lewis

2

Band 2

Employment: Senior Executive

1

Anna Birtwistle

1

Band 1

1

David Smellie

1

Band 1

1

Eleanor Rowswell

1

Band 1

4

Kathleen Heycock

4

Band 4

U

Charmaine Pollock

U

Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Farrer & Co LLP

Anna Birtwistle

Charmaine Pollock

Charmaine Pollock

Eleanor Rowswell

Kathleen Heycock

Farrer & Co LLP has rankings in the following guides

3

Employment

Global 2025

UK

Go to department